INTERFERENCE MEASUREMENTS AND MANAGEMENT IN DIRECTIONAL MESH NETWORKS
Techniques may be used for interference measurement and management in directional mesh networks, including centralized and/or distributed approaches. A centralized node, such as an operations and maintenance (OAM) center, may use feedback from nodes in the mesh network to partition the nodes in the mesh network into clusters based on interference levels. Interference measurement reports may be used by the centralized node to update cluster membership. An initiating node in the mesh network may use topographical information to generate an initial interference cluster, and interference measurement frame (IMF) scheduling information may be used to schedule transmissions within the interference clusters. Techniques for opportunistic measurement campaigns, simultaneous measurement campaigns, link failure detection, and link re- acquisition in directional mesh networks may also be used.
1 . A first station (STA) in a mesh network configured to communicate with other STAs in the mesh network using directional beams, the first STA comprising:
a transceiver; and
a processor, wherein
the transceiver is configured to perform beamforming training with a second STA;
the transceiver is configured to receive a first frame including measurement scheduling information for performing interference measurements between pairs of STAs in the mesh network; and
the transceiver is configured to perform interference measurements, using a directional receive beam, on directional transmit beams from the second STA in time slots indicated in the measurement scheduling information.
2 . The first STA of claim 1 , wherein:
the transceiver is configured to transmit, to the second STA, the measurement scheduling information.
3 . The first STA of claim 1 , wherein:
the processor is configured to generate a measurement report based on the interference measurements of the directional beams from the second STA; and
the transceiver is configured to transmit the measurement report.
4 . The first STA of claim 3 , wherein the measurement report includes at least one of the following: an interference level, a reception beam direction, an identifier of a transmitting node, a transmit beam direction, a measurement time slot, a reception beam identifier, or a transmit beam identifier.
5 . The first STA of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of highly directional antennas, wherein the transceiver is configured to communicate with other STAs in the mesh network over directional transmit and receive beams using the plurality of highly directional antennas.
6 . The first STA of claim 1 , wherein the transceiver is configured to perform interference measurements, using a plurality of different directional receive beams, on the directional transmit beams from the second STA in time slots indicated in the measurement scheduling information.
7 . The first STA of claim 1 , wherein:
the transceiver is configured to receive interference reports from a plurality of neighboring nodes; and
the processor is configured to identify, based on the interference reports, at least one neighboring node from the plurality of neighboring nodes that creates interference above a predetermined threshold; and
the processor is configured to add the at least one neighboring node to an interference neighbor list.
8 . A method, performed by a first station (STA) in a mesh network, for communicating with other STAs in the mesh network using directional beams, the method comprising:
performing beamforming training with a second STA;
receiving a first frame including measurement scheduling information for performing interference measurements between pairs of STAs in the mesh network; and
performing interference measurements, using a directional receive beam, on directional transmit beams from the second STA in time slots indicated in the measurement scheduling information.
9 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
transmitting, to the second STA, the measurement scheduling information.
10 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
generating a measurement report based on the interference measurements of the directional beams from the second STA; and
transmitting the measurement report.
11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the measurement report includes at least one of the following: an interference level, a reception beam direction, an identifier of a transmitting node, a transmit beam direction, a measurement time slot, a reception beam identifier, or a transmit beam identifier.
12 . The method of claim 8 further comprising communicating with other STAs in the mesh network over directional transmit and receive beams using a plurality of highly directional antennas.
13 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
performing interference measurements, using a plurality of different directional receive beams, on the directional transmit beams from the second STA in time slots indicated in the measurement scheduling information.
14 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
receiving interference reports from a plurality of neighboring nodes; and
identifying, based on the interference reports, at least one neighboring node from the plurality of neighboring nodes that creates interference above a predetermined threshold; and
adding the at least one neighboring node to an interference neighbor list.